Welcome to the Office of International Programs and Services and congratulations on
your acceptance to ETSU! We look forward to welcoming you to our campus.

The purpose of this page is to provide pre-arrival information and a checklist of
things you must do before and upon arriving in the United States. A LOT of steps are
necessary for a smooth arrival to campus, which is provided in the following:

Read all the New Students pre-arrival information provided in these tabs

Please feel free to e-mail the Office of International Programs & Services (IPS) at
interntl@etsu.edu or call 001-423-439-7737 anytime you have questions or need assistance.

See you soon!

The Pre-Arrival Meeting is an online meeting with the International Student Advisors,
who go over the necessary steps to prepare and arrive to ETSU's campus. The format
is WebEx, which is similar to Skype.

Whether or not you have applied or completed the I-20/DS-2019 request, we welcome
you to join us! Following the presentation, students are able to speak directly with
the advisors and ask questions.

Meeting times are always in Eastern Standard Time (EST) or New York time. Follow the below instructions to join!

Next meeting to take place is March 6 at 8:30 AM.

You can join the Pre-Arrival Meeting by using either the link or by phone, depending
on your needs. Use the required meeting number/password or access code as applicable.

In preparation for requesting your form I-20 or DS-2019 please follow these instructions:

Before Request

Activate Account

Activate/set up your ETSU account here. You cannot request an I-20/DS-2019 until this step is completed.

Instructions

Check your ETSU email for a message from our office with detailed instructions to
request an I-20 or DS-2019.

If Deferred

If you have deferred your admission, make sure that you requested an updated admission
letter from the Admissions Office or School of Graduate Studies, as appropriate. You will not be able to request an updated I-20/DS-2019 until the
updated admission letters are issued.

Documents to Upload

Passport

Picture page of your valid passport.

If you have dependents, picture page of their valid passports

Admission Letter

ETSU admission/acceptance Letter

Or a copy of the updated admission/acceptance letter, if you have deferred your enrollment

Scholarship

If you have a scholarship award letter or email, make sure it shows the scholarship
dollar ($) value.

SACM students only need to provide the Scholarship Financial Guarantee Letter.

Most ETSU scholarships do not cover the cost of living expenses. As such, you must
provide financial documentation for the difference between your scholarship value
and the ETSU cost of attendance for international students.

Funding

Funding and the Financial Statement form must be uploaded. Uploads must be CLEARLY
READABLE or the advisors will reject your request. Amount of funding must meet or
exceed the estimated cost of attendance.

The estimated cost of attendance is for 9 months only (fall and spring terms). If
you do not plan to return home for the summer, it will be your responsibility to make
sure you have funds to support yourself during the summer vacation.

Permanent vs. Mailing Address: On the request form, we ask for both a permanent and
a mailing address.

Permanent address is a foreign address. We cannot use a post office box as a permanent
address.

The mailing address can either be your foreign address or a US address. It is the
address you wish for your I-20/DS-2019 to be shipped to.

Begin Request

Link

Follow the link emailed to you

Login

Use your ETSU login information to sign in.

DO NOT Create an Account.

See image below.

Begin

Click "Complete This Form" to begin.

See image below.

Login

Complete This Form

Now that you have an I-20 or DS-2019 from ETSU, you must prepare to apply for your
F-1 or J-1 visa. Follow the steps below and visit the Department of Homeland's Student Process Steps for information to apply for your student visa.

Per immigration regulations, students with an Initial I-20 or DS-2019 may not enter
the United States more than 30 days before the reporting date on these documents.

This date is July 21 for incoming Fall 2018 students. Please take this into consideration
when making your travel plans.

A. Pay SEVIS I-901 Fee:

All international students applying for the F-1 or J-1 visas must pay the SEVIS I-901
fee. This fee is currently $200.00 USD for the F-1 visa and $180.00 USD for the J-1
visa. The fee MUST be paid a minimum of 3 business days prior to applying for the
visa. You must have the receipt of the payment when you go for your visa interview
appointment.

Visa application procedures vary somewhat among Consulates in various countries. The
US Visas Website will help you through the process of applying for the student visa. Once you are
on that web page, select the appropriate visa type (i.e. F or J), then read and follow
the instructions.

Generally, there are several steps in this process including:

Completing the Online Visa Application (Form DS-160)

Scheduling a Visa Interview Appointment

Preparing appropriate documentation for the Interview

Required documentation varies depending on which country you are in.

Be sure to check with the consulate for which documents you should bring with you
BEFORE your interview.

NOTE: If you have F-2 or J-2 dependents accompanying you to the US, be sure to take
their Passports, I-20s or DS-2019s, Marriage/Birth Certificates, etc. as well.

2. Make sure your financial documents match what is listed on the I-20 or DS-2019
for your financial support.

3. Remember to pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee at least 3 business days prior to your interview!

4. If you are transferring to ETSU from another U.S. institutions, please review information
on Transfer Students.

5. If you are planning to apply for a change of status, please review the following
information: Change of Status

A. Planning Your Flight

Please note, as stated by the Department of Homeland Security, "A visa does not guarantee entrance to the United States; it only permits you to
arrive and seek permission to enter the country. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) officer at the U.S. port of entry has the final authority to admit entry into
the country."

Per immigration regulations, students with an Initial I-20 or DS-2019 may not enter
the United States more than 30 days before the reporting date on these documents.

This date is July 21 for incoming Fall 2018 students. Please take this into consideration
when making your travel plans.

Make your travel arrangements as soon as possible. Please note, only one airport close
to ETSU. Please fly into this airport, which is the Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI):
http://www.triflight.com/

Know your flight itinerary and carry our office contact information with you. In addition,
it is imperative you have your passport and travel documents (I-20 or DS-2019) with
you. Do not keep them in your checked luggage!

It is very important to know the flight regulations set by the U.S. Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) and any equivalent in your home country. Before your
flight to the United States, please view https://www.tsa.gov/travel.

The short video below offers information on the U.S. Health Care System. DISCLAIMER
TO VIDEO: The video below was produced by internationalstudentinsurance.com. We find
the information within the video helpful for a general overview of the United Statues
medical system and what international students and scholars should expect.

Insurance Video

Insurance Information

ETSU health insurance requirements:

Condition of Enrollment

International students under the F and J visas must have and maintain medical and
hospitalization insurance as a condition of initial or continued enrollment at ETSU.

Plan or Waiver

All international students will be required to enroll in the ETSU Student Comprehensive
Health Insurance Plan or on another plan of their choice, provided that:

The private policy benefits meet or exceed those provided by the ETSU policy.

The student submits a request for a waiver from purchasing the ETSU provided coverage.
A waiver may be denied if private plan benefits are lower than those provided by the
ETSU plan or ETSU cannot otherwise ensure the private plan provides sufficient coverage
for the student while enrolled at the university.

J Visa

Students under any of the J Student Categories must also carry accident, illness,
medical evacuation, and repatriation insurance for spouses and dependents.

Duration

Students must have coverage for 12 months (August 1st to July 31st).

Purge

Students who are enrolled at ETSU as of August 15 (fall term), and/or January 15 (spring
term) but not in compliance with the health insurance requirement will have their
enrollment cancelled on August 15 and/or January 15.

Important:

Vison and Dental

The health insurance coverage that you purchase at ETSU will not provide you with
dental or eye coverage. We strongly recommend that you have a dental and an eye examination before departing for the United States.

All ETSU students cannot register for full-time classes or move into campus dorms
until proof of immunizations has been provided to the University Health Center Office.
Information and detailed requirements can be found by visiting their international
section on their website.

To register for classes, first you will need to contact your Academic Advisor or Graduate
Coordinator. Note that there are different registration procedures depending on your
degree level.

Once you register for classes, you can obtain your ETSU id card. Please visit the
ID Services web site for more information.

A. Undergraduate Students:

The Academic Advisor will assist you with any questions or concerns regarding your
academic program. To find your advisor, listed by major, click here.

The International Student Advisor will advise you on regulations pertaining to your
F-1 or J-1 immigration status. To contact your ISA, email: internl@etsu.edu.

F-1:

F-1 degree-seeking undergraduate international students are required to complete
ETSU online LAUNCH orientation before you are allowed to register for classes. The Orientation Office will send an invite to your ETSU email. The orientation fee
is $30.

Once you complete LAUNCH, contact your academic advisor for assistance in registering
for classes. The earlier you register, the better your chances of getting a seat in
courses that you need.

J-1:

J-1 visiting/exchange students, your academic advisor will contact you via your ETSU
email account. If your academic advisor does not contact you, please find the advisor
for your major by clicking here and contact him or her by email.

B. Graduate Students:

The Graduate Coordinator, listed in your admission letter, will serve as your academic
advisor. Please contact him or her by email for assistance in registering for classes.

The International Student Advisor will advise you on regulations pertaining to your
F-1 or J-1 immigration status. To contact your ISA, email: interntl@etsu.edu.

ETSU wants our international students to be successful and so we have a full-time
staff person dedicated to assisting international students with their social and academic
needs. That International Student Success Coordinator is housed in the Multicultural
Center on campus and directs both our International Friendship Program (IFP) and our
International Buccaneer Buddy (IBB) program, and publishes a helpful weekly newsletter
for international students. For more information about those services, please go to
their website by clicking here.

Attention New International Students

The Office of International Programs and Services at ETSU encourages you to apply
for our International Friends Program (IFP) and our Buccaneer Buddy Program (IBB).
You may apply for either or both programs. If you apply for the IFP, you will be
paired with an ETSU faculty or staff, or community, volunteer family who will help
you during the first few days after your arrival. Please note that this program is
only available to new students coming to ETSU for the first time and hosts cannot
accommodate family or friends traveling with the student. The benefits of applying
for the program are:

You would have someone to pick you up at the airport, feed and house you for a night
or two, help you move into your new campus housing, and take you shopping for the
things you might need for your housing.

You would quickly know someone in the community who could answer your questions and
help you as you adjust to life here.

You will have someone to show you around the campus and the city when you first arrive,
so you can more quickly become familiar with your new home.

If you apply for the IBB, you will be paired with a volunteer student buddy who will
assist you during the first month you are here, and you will be able to do activities
and trips with many other IBB students that includes both American students and other international
students. The benefits of applying for IBB are:

You will have American students to show you around campus and help answer questions
about campus life and American culture.

You will have the opportunity to engage in new and fun activities and experiences
with other students

You will be able to make new friends from around the world.

You will more quickly adapt to the life and culture here and have a richer experience
of life in the USA.

There are limited openings for the program so the earlier you apply the better the
chance of being served. The deadline for applying for Fall semester is August 10
and the deadline for Spring semester is December 10. Following the applications below
you can read what recent international students said about their experience with IFP
and IBB.

If you have questions regarding this program, please email the International Student
Success Specialist: IFP-IBB@etsu.edu

This section provides information about on- and off-campus housing, as well as optional
meal plans offered by ETSU Dining Services.

Please note, when signing a rent agreement either on or off-campus, it is a legal
binding document. We recommend you read and understand such documents thoroughly.

On-Campus Housing

All the housing facilities available to you on campus are described in great detail
on the ETSU Housing and Residence Life web page. Apply as soon as possible, as housing assignments are made on a first-come-first-served
basis. Please note, a meal plan is required if you live on campus.

Move in dates for Fall 2019 are the Friday, Saturday and Sunday prior to the start
of class. Students may move in any time between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. However, by
special arrangement, international students may move in a week early. If you wish
to take advantage of this, contact the Housing Office (housing@etsu.edu) 1-6 months in advance.

Off-Campus Housing

Off-campus apartments may rent from $500 - $800 per month and requires deposits for
rent, electricity, internet and/or telephone connections. In addition, setup and monthly
fee may be applicable and fluctuate.

The ETSU Housing Office does not provide individual assistance for off-campus housing.
However, you may find a list of rental/lease units available at this website. Please contact the individual advertising the vacancy directly for more information.

Alternatively, you can view off-campus housing options by searching "Johnson City
TN apartments near ETSU" on the website.

Since public transportation in Johnson City is very limited, you should search for
off-campus housing within walking distance from the ETSU campus.

Meal Plans

ETSU dining plans are a great value, help students eat regular healthy and delicious
meals, and are a great way to meet friends on campus. Whether you choose to live on
or off campus, one of the meal plans offered will fit your needs.

Students who live on-campus, a meal plan is required. However, only these students
can participate in the Resident Advantage meal plans, designed to work with your on-campus
life and save you money. If you opt for the Resident Advantage plan, it is billed
directly to your student Goldlink account as a part of your room and board fees, which
means that it is sales tax exempt (approximately 10% savings).You will be required
to sign a housing and a meal plan contract. Contracts cannot be canceled.

Students who live off-campus, a meal plan is not required, however, such students
are eligible to purchase a meal plan if they wish to.

Limited seating is available and therefore you must reserve a date and time. To do
so follow the instructions in the invite that will be sent to your ETSU email.

Presentation details are as follows:

Location

Yoakley Hall, Room 109

Time

9:00 am - 11:30 am EST/New York Time

Starts promptly at 9:00 am. Ending time is approximate.

Dates

Thursday

August 15

Friday

August 16

Monday

August 19

Tuesday

August 20

Wednesday

August 21

Thursday

August 22

Step 2

Submit Check-in immigration documents online.

Some documents will not be available until after you arrive into the US. Therefore,
a link will be provided after a Check-In Presentation has been attended.

Documents required to submit:

CLEAR SCANNED COPIES OF:

Picture page of passportVisaI-20 or DS-2019 (signed and dated by you)Entry Stamp I-94 (you receive this after you enter the US)Dependent/s documents if applicable

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS: DO NOT CONFUSE THIS WITH THE LAUNCH ORIENTATION. YOU HAVE
TO DO BOTH.

Shortly after your arrival, there will be financial obligations you must be prepared
to meet. Knowing about these ahead of time and thinking about how you will take care
of them will help you to have a smoother transition to studying in the United States.

Be aware, estimations are based on an academic year of 9 months. If your do not plan
to return home for the summer it is your responsibility to secure financing for a
full 12 months.

Please note, financial support is not a mere formality to obtain an I-20 or DS-2019.
Nor is it to facilitate your entry into the United States. Rather, financial support
must ensure that you will not become a public charge or take unauthorized employment
while studying in the United States. This obligation begins when you, under an F or
J visa, enter the United States and continues until the completion of your program
or departure.

1. Tuition and Fees

After you have registered for your classes for the semester, you will be able to view
your student account balance on Goldlink. What you'll see reflected here are your
total charges (tuition, fees, required health insurance, and room & board costs if
you're living on campus or have a meal plan), minus the value of any tuition scholarships
you might have received.

The amount shown will be what you owe. You may pay the entire at balance at once,
or choose a payment plan in which you pay 50% of the total at the beginning of the
semester, and then make two more payments of 25% each on specified dates during the
semester.

Important: Please be aware that you will be purged from the class rosters if you have
not either paid your bill in full or set up a payment plan by the Friday before classes
begin! (If you are not yet registered by that Friday, then you will be purged from
class rosters on census day -- the 10th day of classes -- if you have not paid in
full or set up a payment plan.)

You should also keep in mind that, even if you receive a tuition scholarship or graduate
assistant position, you will still be responsible for the payment of the "Fees" portion
of your "Tuition and Fees." You will have to pay a portion of your costs at ETSU with
your own money, in other words.

*Graduate Assistantship amounts are based on the average stipend amount.

**Pharmacy Students: The College of Pharmacy has different estimated expenses for
its students.Please see their website for information and details at: https://www.etsu.edu/pharmacy/

Actual expenses may be higher or lower, depending on each student’s personal needs
and preferences. Costs may change without notice. Some departments have additional
course fees. Contact these offices for information of such fees.

Schoalrships are NOT GUARANTEED and those that are available to F and J visa students
are very limited. While our office does not oversee scholarships, you may review requirements
on our website here. If you have questions or would like to apply, you must contact the offices offering
these scholarships directly.

A dependent is considered a spouse and/or children of an F-1 or J-1 student. For all
dependents who will need immigration documents issued by ETSU, the passport biographical
page for each dependent is required.

The I-20/DS-2019 Request Form provides a section to add dependent information and
upload their passport/s. Or, depending on your situation, you may request to add them
later.

However, an additional expense for each dependent is added to the total estimated cost of attendance as follows:

F-1

J-1

$4,700

$7,200

If you make your request to add a dependent later, please note, you are required to
submit updated financial documents, regardless if you just made a submission.

Please see the Dependents tab for current students to make your request at a later date.

3. Room & Board

For information about the accommodations and meal plans available on campus, please
visit:

It is very important that you do not overlook or underestimate the cost of living
in Johnson City when considering how much money you need to have available. The cost
of living in Johnson City is less expensive than in many other cities in the U.S.
it may be expensive compared to your home country living costs. Whether you choose
to live on or off campus, you should plan to spend a minimum of $1500 per month on
food, shelter, books and supplies, and personal care items while you are in the United
States.

You do not have to live on campus, although doing so is a great way to meet new friends
and to really become part of the ETSU community as well as to experience all that
university life in the United States has to offer.

Financial Aid

1. Scholarships

There are some scholarships designed specifically for international students. Scholarships
reduce the amount you have to pay for tuition. For information about scholarship opportunities
available to international students, please visit: Scholarships

Please note that the Merit Scholarships and Tuition Scholarships, for undergraduate
and graduate students, have different values. The Merit Scholarship covers one half
of the in-and out-of-tuition cost but does not cover fees. The Tuition Scholarship
covers the total cost of the in- and out-of-state graduate tuition cost, but does
not cover fees.

Schoalrships are NOT GUARANTEED and those that are available to F and J visa students
are very limited. As our office does not oversee scholarships, you must contact the
offices offering these scholarships directly if you have questions or would like to
apply. You may review requirements on our website by using the link provided above.

2. Sponsorships

If you are sponsored by a government, education institution or official agency, these
entities must provide the following:

provide an official Scholarship Award letter with clearly defined scholarship terms
and/or any measures that would affect the student’s scholarship

have an agreement to pay ETSU directly for the student’s tuition and if applicable,
fees including housing and meal plan (we will verify this agreement with ETSU’s Bursar’s
Office before issuing an I-20)

provide a stipend to cover living expenses, books, housing and meal plan (if applicable)
and other related educational costs

will cover the insurance fee via the stipend or provide medical insurance that meets
or exceeds ETSU’s requirements

If sponsoring entities cannot meet the above-mentioned criteria, the student needs
to follow the instructions for submitting financial documents on the online request form.
A summary is located in Financial Documents below.

3. Financial Documents

Financial documents must meet or exceed the Estimated Cost of Attendance and the following
guidelines:

Current bank statements:

Showing the 3 most current months of account transactions. Please note, we are not accepting financial documentation from businesses.

The Financial Statement form completed and uploaded with bank statements (form and
its instructions located in the online request form).

4. Graduate Assistantship

For graduate students, some departments offer graduate assistantships, which reduce
the amount of tuition you have to pay, plus provide a stipend in exchange for work
you do for the department. The stipend may be used to assist you in meeting your living
expenses, purchasing books and supplies, or for any other costs you incur while studying
in the United States.

PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT ASSUME THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT YOURSELF SOLELY BY WORKING ON-CAMPUS
AS THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE.

International students are limited in the types of employment they may pursue while
studying in the United States. In general, as an international student, you may work
on campus only, and for no more than 20 hours per week when school is in session.
Jobs are not guaranteed to international students and there are a limited number of
positions available.

International students are only eligible for "RSWP" (Regular Student Work Study) positions.

This section is designed to provide you with information which does not "fit" into
the other sections. Please be sure to go over each of the items below, as each has
important information that will be helpful for you to know.

Give the Dispatcher your name, a general explanation of your problem, your phone number
and tell him/her that you need to contact the International Programs and Services
Director. The International Programs and Services Director or a designee will contact
you as soon as possible.